As flattered as he is by one of his closest friends in New York politics floating him as a possible presidential candidate, GOP Rep. Peter King says he isn’t putting a campaign together just yet.

“I’m not going to Iowa; I’m not going to New Hampshire; I’m not forming an exploratory committee,” the Homeland Security Committee chairman told POLITICO on Wednesday.

But, King told POLITICO, he’d be interested “if it takes off.”

King, the longest-serving Republican in the state’s congressional delegation, said he’s focused on getting an 11th term in the House.

King’s comments came after The Associated Press reported that his longtime ally, Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Mondello, suggested at a Tuesday night fundraiser that the congressman should run.

King’s initial response to the AP, “Let’s see what happens,” lit up on Twitter and various political blogs.

King insisted Mondello was looking “to angle to be able to bargain at the convention and as candidates come through.”

Asked whether they were just trying to attract media attention with presidential rumors, King said he had not encouraged his friend to say anything about a White House bid. “If anyone’s using anyone, he’s using me,” King said.

Nonetheless, King’s congressional committee sent out an email quoting Mondello, saying that if King runs, he’d support him — and that he’d be a strong candidate.

King has a long history of flirting with runs for other offices. For years, he flirted with bids for New York governor and the Senate but has backed out every time.

He said Wednesday he chose not to run against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was first appointed by former Gov. David Paterson, because he would have had to raise too much money. So how about running against President Barack Obama, who’s likely to run a $1 billion campaign in 2012? He laughed.

Even so, he wouldn’t completely close the door on a presidential bid. “I don’t intend to be president,” he said. But, he added, “I’m just gonna let this play out.”